Bill: Make mental health courts statewide

This alternative program may be the answer to the lingering question of how to help those in the criminal justice system suffering from mental health problems. Keri Hensley/USA TODAY NETWORK
Wochit

The state and the U.S. Department of Justice have broken off negotiations seeking an agreement on how to fix Mississippi’s violations of federal law regarding children with mental illnesses.(Photo: File photo)

More defendants diagnosed with a mental illness might have access to alternatives to incarceration under legislation passed by the House on Thursday.

House Bill 419 sponsored by Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, expands the pilot mental health program established by the Legislature last year. Mississippi has 22 Circuit Court districts. Six of those districts—the second, third, eighth, 12th, 17th and 20th — are eligible for the program under the current law. The Rivers McGraw Act, named in honor of an Ole Miss student who committed suicide in the wake of an arrest for DUI, set up a pilot diversion program modeled after the state’s Drug Courts.

Rep. Jason White, R-West, carried the measure on the House floor.

"The judge has the final say as to whether or not a person would qualify," he said.

White told representatives that no funding has been dedicated to the proposal, but said funds could come later as lawmakers begin budget work. The bulk of the court’s costs, he said, will likely be paid by participants.

Mississippi has come under scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice for failing to provide community-based health services for mentally ill adults.

And one goal of Currie’s legislation is to “reduce the inappropriate institutionalization of people with mental illnesses.”

Rep. Chuck Young, D-Meridian, questioned whether the state is providing sufficient support to make this vision happen.

“I like the program,” he said. “I like the concept of the program. With the drastic cuts, we’ve had with mental health, where are these people going?”

Although the legislation is a step forward for mental health, eligibility is limited.

The House agreed to a non-controversial calendar Thursday. The step is taken as a way to quickly pass bills that are unlikely to draw pushback.

Other legislation passed Thursday include a measure allowing the University of Mississippi Medical Center to remove 7,000 bodies buried on campus, a proposal to charge the state Department of Agriculture with inspecting honey and a measure allowing 4-H clubs to stage livestock shows at no cost.

The bills now head to the Senate. Both chambers face a Feb. 9 deadline to pass legislation originating in their own house.